Family Visit

This past weekend brought a lot of people to the Summer Garden. My dad and sister were in town. My dad, Ken O'Dell, has been in the plant business for over 60 years and he took a tour of the garden on Saturday. My sister, Virginia, brother-in-law, Bill, niece, Lilli, and nephew, Everett, went to the Garden on Sunday morning. The Hornbuckles took home some okra, beans, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Lilli was a champ at tomato picking. The boys picked beans and Virginia cut okra. When Lilli and Everett get bigger, maybe they can come help at the Treehugger Organics Gardens #1 (The Thankful Garden), #2 (The Little Buddy Garden), and #3 (The Peace Garden).

 

The Hornbuckles and no them ain't Easter Baskets

Carrots and Melons

So we never made it to the Summer Garden yesterday. Homework and all. Anyway, Magun and I kicked around the Home Garden-actually, I dug some carrots while Magun showed me her skills on her Razor Scooter. We got a handful of odd carrots. It should be more, but I did not plant them correctly. I planted the seeds too deep to start and probably too late or too early. Next year, we will go with a good orange carrot and be happy. These were a Rainbow Blend and though Magun likes them, the Red ones are not very good. Also, we picked out first Hale's Best Melon yesterday. The size of the melon compared to the mini Sivan can be seen below. I must say though...to be able to walk in the kitchen and see a basket of okra, tomatoes, a bunch of carrots, some melons, and a basket of beans and cucumbers sure is nice....and to be able to send a basket full of fresh produce to others is even better.

A Bunch of Rainbow Mix Carrots

 What's Up Doc!!!

Sivan F1 Melon (left) and Hale's Best Melon (right)

 The end of the day and a basket of fresh produce

Okra and Maters

Well, the okra has come in. We have a ton of Burgundy and Clemson Spineless Okra. Man does that staff grow fast. Magun and I went over on Sunday morning and cut about a half of bushel and Luba and I are headed back this afternoon to cut some more. We are finally getting some good sized tomatoes. Hillbilly and Yellow Brandywine. The corn ears look odd, but have good taste. There are some Black Beauty Eggplant almost ripe and more cucumbers for sure. Cucumbers-Silver Slicer, Marketmore, and National Pickling-the fruit that just keeps on giving. Oh yeah-Kentucky Wonder Green Beans are here. Luba will be working this afternoon!!!!

 Clemson Spineless Okra--picked with care by Magun O'Dell

 Burgundy and Clemson Okra-picked while Magun scratched bug bites

 Hillbilly and Yellow Brandywine Tomatoes-finally some sizable fruits

Big News and some notes as well

Last night, Magun and I went over to the Summer Garden and picked some tomatoes. I must say the Arkansas Traveler is a strong producer. We will definitely plant those again next year. Buddy the Amazing Farm Dog came along and stood guard. We checked the beans, corn, okra, cucumbers, eggplant and melons. Magun discovered a Moon and Stars Watermelon. It is small but surely does have a moon on it. When we got back home, there was some more canning done. We have been fortunate to have some gorgeous zucchini come from the Home Garden. Last night, we made a dozen half pint jars of sweet zucchini relish. It is supposed to be a lot like pickle relish and it sure did smell and look good--so we will keep our fingers crossed for some good relish this fall. Now for the Big News, I rode around with my Little Buddy--my father-in-law Dick Simons--and looked at some vacant properties owned by the Land Bank. We are acquiring six plots of land close to our house and will be establishing community gardens for the neighborhoods. These will be self-sustaining with the bounty going to the neighbors!!! Go Treehugger Organics!!!

 Magun and her Moon and Stars Watermelon

 Sweet Zucchini Relish in half pint jars

A weekend of new things

Well, it was a big weekend. Buddy the Farm Dog came to stay. In the Summer Garden, Magun, Buddy, and I picked some Clemson Spineless and Burgundy Okra-still about 5 or 6 days out from the big pick I think. We picked some Kentucky Wonder Green Beans. They are great. I remember eating them as a kid with my grandparents and they were so sweet, fresh and raw...still are. Magun loved them. We picked some smaller National Pickling Cucumbers and Stephanie and I made some Half Sours. 3 Big Half Gallon Jars! They will be ready in about 4 or 5 days. Our corn is slow to develop, but the kernels are big and moist but the ears are only half the normal size. I think we were late getting it planted but I have my fingers crossed. Next year, we will plant earlier and be prepared for the raccoons that ate all the corn in our Home Garden because it was planted on time. We picked 3 fair size California Bells (2 from Summer and 1 from Home) to use in Sweet Zucchini Relish we are making tonight hopefully. Below are a couple of pics of the Bells and the Half Sours--grow on!!!

 My Belle with some Home Garden California Bells for Sweet Zucchini Relish

 My girls with half gallon Half Sours

Buddy the Farm Dog

A quick post...more this afternoon. I would like to introduce--Buddy the Farm Dog. Buddy came to us over the weekend. He is about 18 months old. We had a struggle with a name-Ed? Riley? Baxter? but Buddy seem to fit. Welcome to the O'Dell and Treehugger clan. He has gone to the Summer Garden and was a great help and so was Magun!

 Buddy- I bet he is a dirt monster, no need for a tiller anymore

Pass the Butter Please-Oh and Bread Too!

Last night, we cut up about 16 cups of cucumbers-National Pickling and Silver Slicers. We "put up" 12 pints of Bread & Butter Pickles with a twist. Three hours of "chillin'" some sugar, cider vinegar, and secret spices and now it is a waiting game. Stephanie and Magun were the keys to the operation so I know the pickles will be wonderful. Now, we just have 10 lbs. of cucumbers left. Half/halfs anyone? Any other types?